Book holder and separator

ABSTRACT

A holder and separator for books including a frame which is adapted to be secured underneath the top shelf of a bookcase, a pendulum having a head end and a free end having a magnet member thereon, the pendulum swinging between a horizontal position adjacent the top shelf of the bookcase above the books contained therein and a vertical position between two books in the bookcase for maintaining these books in a separated condition. A mangetically attractable member is affixed underneath the top shelf of the bookcase and is arranged to be contacted by the magnet member on the free end of the pendulum when the latter is in its horizontal position.

United States Patent n 1 Herryman i 1 June 17, 1975 [76] Inventor:

1 1 BOOK HOLDER AND SEPARATOR Rafael Marcelo Herryman, 121 E. AlleghenySt.. Martinsburg. Pa.

221 Filed: Jan. 9, 1974 [21] Appl.No.:431,989

21 1/184 [51] Int. Cl. A4713 65/00 [58] Field 01 Search 211/43, 184. 42.DIG. 1; 248/441. 205 A. 108/60, 61

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 481.505 8/1892 Muir 211/42534.116 2/1895 Lyons.. .1 211/184 639.063 12/1899 Ladd 211/184 X 657.8479/1900 Young 211/42 758.868 5/1904 Storm 211/43 809.315 H1906 Maccallum108/61 1.060.020 4/1913 Pennewill 211/184 X 1.230.653 6/1917 Benedict il r 211/184 UX 3.146.888 9/1964 Schacfer et a1.. 211/43 3.450.268 6/1969Sakamoto 211/42 3.604.564 9/1971 Weyll it 211/43 FORElGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 196.934 7/1938 Switzerland 211/42 34,766 7/1925 Denmark211/42 524.080 5/1921 France 211/42 283.000 12/1952 Switzerland 21 H184282.902 2/1928 United Kingdom A i i 21 1/43 794.035 4/1958 UnitedKingdom 211/43 Primary Examiner-Roy D Frazier Assistant Examiner-Thomas.1. Holko Attorney. Agenl, 0r Firm-Smith. Harding. Earley & Follmer [57]ABSTRACT A holder and separator for books including a frame which isadapted to be secured underneath the top shelf of a bookcase. a pendulumhaving a head end and a free end having a magnet member thereon. thependulum swinging between a horizontal position adjacent the top shelfof the bookcase above the books contained therein and a verticalposition between two books in the bookcase for maintaining these booksin a separated condition. A mangetically attractable member is affixedunderneath the top shelf of the bookcase and is arranged to be contactedby the magnet member on the free end of the pendulum when the latter isin its horizontal position.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures |4 l1HHHHH- HHH H IO BOOK HOLDER ANDSEPARATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates toaccessories attachable to bookcases or any type of shelves used to keepbooks in a stacked condition such as in libraries or other similarplaces where books are kept, which accessory serves to facilitate theorganization of the books in the bookcase. More specifically, the devicein accordance with the invention is designed to keep or mark the placeof a book when it is pulled out of a bookcase and to prevent theremaining books from falling to the side into the space caused by thebook removal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the general object of the invention toprovide an improved holder and separator for books contained in abookcase or the like, the design in accordance with the inventionproviding simple and effective means for marking the place of a bookwhich is removed from a bookcase and maintaining the books in aseparated condition.

Briefly stated, the general object of the invention is achieved by theprovision of a holder and separator which comprises a pendulum memberhaving a head end and a free end having a magnet member thereon, meansfor supporting the pendulum at its head end on the underside of the topshelf for swinging movement between a horizontal position adjacent thetop shelf of the bookcase above the books contained therein and avertical position between two books in the bookcase for maintaining thebooks in a separated condition. A magnetically attractable member isaffixed underneath the top shelf of the bookcase and is adapted to becontacted by the magnet member when the pendulum member is in itshorizontal position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view ofa bookcase provided with the holder and separator in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the frame used in the holder andseparator for books in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the holder and separator in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of another form of pendulum member inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a cane-shaped flake; and

FIG. 7 is a front view of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to thedrawings, the book holder and separator in accordance with the inventioncomprises a frame II) which is a rectangular and comprises a rear leg I2and a front leg 14 spaced apart and joined by a pair of side legs 16 and18 (see FIG. 3). The rear leg I2 can be made of various materials suchas. wood. metal or plastic and is provided with a plurality of holes 13spaced along the length thereof and adapted for the insertion ofmounting screws. A plurality of generally J-shaped metal hooks 20 aremounted to project downwardly from the underside of leg 12 as is bestshown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The hooks 20 are equally spaced along thelength of the leg I2 and have a short vertically extending tail portion22 spaced from the bottom of the leg I2 as is best shown in FIG. 4.

The leg 14 is made of iron or any other suitable material that ismagnetically attractable. Leg I4 is also provided with holes 15 adaptedfor the insertion of screws for mounting the same on the underside ofthe bookcase.

While the objective of the side legs 16 and 18 in the frame 10 is tohold the legs 12 and I4 in spaced parallel relation, it will be apparentthat these side legs 16 and 18 can be omitted and that the front andrear legs 12 and I4 can be attached to the bookcase with screws andplaced in the desired spaced position, in which case the rear leg I2 isattached underneath the top shelf of the bookcase and set toward theback and the front leg 14 is attached underneath the top shelf of thebookcase adjacent the front thereof.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 there is shown a cane-shaped flake (thin piece) of ironor any other magnetic material which is optional. The flake 30 isadapted to be hitched onto either the spine or either side cover of abook and can be used for marking the place of the book when it isremoved from the bookcase as will appear hereafter.

There is provided a pendulum member 40 which is best shown in FIG. 4 andwhich is adapted to fit inside the hooks 20 so that it can be slid tothe left or right along leg 12 to a place where a book is removed fromthe bookcase as is shown in FIG. 1. The pendulum 40 comprises a bodyportion 42 which is preferably made of aluminum and is in the form of ahollow cylinder. The pendulum 40 also comprises a cylindrical headportion 44 adapted to be inserted within the hooks 20 for rotationtherein to permit a swinging movement of the pendulum 40. The pendulum40 also comprises an extension 46 which is mounted for slidabletelescoping movement within the body 42 between the extended positionshown in FIG. 4 and a retracted position. At the free end of theextension 46 there is provided an elongated magnet 48 which can bepositioned to extend transversely to the plane of the swinging pendulum.

The pendulum 40 is constructed and arranged for swinging movement fromthe vertical position shown in solid lines to a horizontal positionshown in dashed lines in FIG. 4. In the vertical position the extension46 can be pulled to the fully extended position as is shown in solidlines in FIG. 4. The extension 46 can also be pushed to a retractedposition within the hollow cylindrical body and swung to a horizontallyextending position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 4 with the magnet 48 inmagnetic engagement with the iron leg 14. This is the position to whichthe pendulum 40 is moved when it is not in use, it being noted that thisposition is adjacent the underside of the top shelf of the bookcase andabove the books contained in the bookcase. Since the leg 14 is made ofiron these parts stay in the horizontal position once the magnet 48 isplaced in contact with the leg 14 until such time as they are manuallysepa rated.

In FIG. 5 there is shown an alternative embodiment in which the head end44 is shaped in the form of a football as opposed to the cylindricalshape of a head end shown in FIG. 4.

In FIG. I there is shown the application of the invention for holdingand separating books in a small bookcase 50 containing books beneath atop shelf 52 on which the frame 10 is secured as shown. Obviously, theinvention can be adapted to any size bookcase by merely lengthening thelegs 12 and 14 and enlarging the extent of hooks 20 and the pendulum 40as desired, so long as the penduium 40 is proportional to the hooks 20and fits within them so that it can be moved along the hooks to thedesired location. To this end, the head end portion of body 42 isdesigned to fit within a suitable clearance between the tail end 22 ofeach hook 20 and leg 12. Also, where desired more than one pendulum 40is mounted within the hooks 20 in those appli cations where many booksare taken out at the same time.

In use, the pendulum 40 is normally maintained in the horizontalposition above the books. When a book is removed from the bookcase as isshown in FIG. I. the pendulum 40 is released from its magnetically heldhorizontal position and swung to the vertically extending position. Theextension 46 is pulled out of the body 42 as desired and positionedbetween the books adjacent to the book that has just been removed as isshown in FIG. 1. The elongated magnet 48 is positioned to maintain thesebooks in a separated condition and mark the place of the removed book.

Optionally, in the event that metal flakes are provided, a flake 30 isremoved from its hitched position on the book which has just beenremoved from the bookcase and placed in contact with the magnet 48 asshown in dashed lines in FIG. 1. The flake 30 is marked with the titleof the book and thus provides a visual indication of the book which hasbeen removed from a particular location.

I claim:

1. A holder and separator for books in a bookcase or the like having atop shelf above the books comprising a pendulum member having a head endand a free end,

said free end having a magnet member thereon and being elongated so asto be extended transversely to the swinging path of said pendulummember, means for supporting said pendulum at said head end for swingingmovement between a horizontal position adjacent the top shelf of thebookcase above the books contained therein and a vertical positionbetween two books in the bookcase for maintaining the books in aseparated condition, and a magnetically attractable member affixedunderneath the top shelf of the bookcase and adapted to be contacted bysaid magnet member when said pendulum member is in its horizontalposition.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said pendulum member comprisesa body portion having said head end located at one end thereof and anextension portion having said free end located at one end thereof. saidbody portion and said extension portion being telescopically mountedtogether so that said extension is movable from a retracted position toan extended position.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said supporting means for saidpendulum comprises a plurality of hooks spaced along the bookcaseunderneath the top shelf thereof, said head end of said pendulum memberbeing constructed and arranged to be slid along the top shelf of thebookcase within said hooks to various positions.

4. A device according to claim 1 comprising a rectangular frameincluding said pendulum supporting means and said magneticallyattract-able member.

5. A device according to claim 1 including a cane shaped thin strip ofmagnetically attractable material adapted to be supported on said magnetmember.

1. A holder and separator for books in a bookcase or the like having atop shelf above the books comprising a pendulum member having a head endand a free end, said free end having a magnet member thereon and beingelongated so as to be extended transversely to the swinging path of saidpendulum member, means for supporting said pendulum at said head end forswinging movement between a horizontal position adjacent the top shelfof the bookcase above the books contained therein and a verticalposition between two books in the bookcase for maintaining the books ina separated condition, and a magnetically attractable member affixedunderneath the top shelf of the bookcase and adapted to be contacted bysaid magnet member when said pendulum member is in its horizontalposition.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said pendulum membercomprises a body portion having said head end located at one end thereofand an extension portion having said free end located at one endthereof, said body portion and said extension portion beingtelescopically mounted together so that said extension is movable from aretracted position to an extended position.
 3. A device according toclaim 2 wherein said supporting means for said pendulum comprises aplurality of hooks spaced along the bookcase underneath the top shelfthereof, said head end of said pendulum member being constructed andarranged to be slid along the top shelf of the bookcase within saidhooks to various positions.
 4. A device according to claim 1 comprisinga rectangular frame including said pendulum supporting means and saidmagnetically attractable member.
 5. A device according to claim 1including a cane-shaped thin strip of magnetically attractable materialadapted to be supported on said magnet member.